Royal Caribbean’s Icon of the Seas cost roughly $2 billion to build, making it the most expensive cruise ship ever constructed. This massive investment reflects its innovative design, tremendous scale, ground-breaking amenities, and the boldness of Royal Caribbean’s vision.
Discover why this ship cost so much to build, how much it costs to sail on it, and much more!
In This Article:
Magnitude of the Icon of the Seas Project
From the initial napkin sketches that gave the enormous vessel its nickname, “the white paper cruise ship,” the vision for Royal Caribbean International’s Icon of the Seas was incredibly ambitious.
The design team wanted to construct a cruise ship that would be record-breaking in its scale but also revolutionary in its design and passenger features.
The plans were to build not only the largest ship in the Royal Caribbean fleet but also the biggest in the world. The design also called for it to become the “world’s best family vacation at sea,” meaning it would be outfitted with family-friendly amenities on a scale never before seen on the water.
Icon of the Seas would also become the first in Royal Caribbean’s brand-new Icon Class, which would become the cruise line’s signature type of ship. With a focus on family-oriented accommodations and amenities, as well as environmentally friendly technology, it was to be immense from the very beginning.
While the physical size and scale of the ship would be one of its most eye-catching features, Royal Caribbean also worked meticulously on a design that would exceed the expectations of all types of passengers.
Focusing on finding a balance between family-friendly excitement and more adult-oriented relaxation and luxury, the design needed to be different from that of any cruise ship that preceded it.
To achieve this, the innovative neighborhoods concept was introduced into the design. This concept involved dividing the ship’s interior and decks into unique themed areas, such as the adrenalin-boosting Thrill Island and the more relaxed, pool-covered Chill Island.
Creating dedicated spaces for all age groups while still offering a diverse range of activities was a huge achievement in itself. As we will discuss in further detail, some of these “neighborhoods” and amenities had record-breaking features on their own, only adding to the immense magnitude of the Icon of the Seas project.
Once the design was finalized, the ship was constructed at the Meyer Turku Shipyard in Turku, Finland, with the enormous building project commencing in June of 2021.
With a final gross tonnage of 248,663 GT, 20 decks, and a completed length of 1,198 feet, this was also the largest ship ever constructed at the Meyer Turku Shipyard.
Completing the huge project required thousands of skilled workers working in tandem on different segments of the ship, from laying the enormous keel with a 3,000-ton crane to building and testing the record-breaking amenities, like the iconic AquaDome glass and steel dome structure and the largest water park on the water.
Beyond the amenities, the vessel also marked a significant leap in cruise line innovation from an environmentally friendly perspective, featuring ground-breaking technologies like the LNG (liquefied natural gas) powered propulsion system and the latest fuel cell technology.
Royal Caribbean claims that Icon of the Seas is 24% more energy efficient than what the International Maritime Organization requires for modern passenger ships.
By making huge strides towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting clean transportation, the Icon of the Seas project was truly unprecedented and represented a huge step forward for the entire industry.
Icon of the Seas Cost Breakdown
Designing and constructing such a momentous cruise ship came at a tremendous financial cost.
In all, the project cost Royal Caribbean $2 billion, more than $500 million more than the previous record holder, Allure of the Seas, which cost $1.43 billion to build.
Breaking down the various construction costs will help reveal where the funds from this significant investment actually went:
Designing and Engineering the Ship
While the original napkin sketches cost nothing to dream up, turning that original vision for the world’s largest cruise ship into reality required considerable financial and creative resources.
Constructing a cruise ship that would push not only cruise industry boundaries but also shipbuilding standards for complexity, sustainability, and scale was always going to require careful planning from skilled ship designers.
To do so, Royal Caribbean had to turn to some of the industry’s most well-respected and accomplished architects and design teams, including firms like Wilson Butler Architects, 3Deluxe, RTKL, and Skylab Architecture.
Not only did the ship itself need to be designed, but record-breaking features, like the tallest indoor waterfall, the tallest cruise ship water slide, and the largest water park on any cruise ship, also needed to be built into the design.
Estimates suggest that design and engineering might represent roughly 15 to 20% of the project’s total cost, which would translate to around $300-400 million USD.
In addition to designing the keel, hull, propulsion system, and more, this phase also involved crafting intricate deck layouts, space optimization, and integrating cutting-edge amenities and over 40 dining venues. It was a complex project that needed to be done correctly, which was always going to be expensive.
Labor Costs
Labor always represents a significant proportion of total costs when constructing a new cruise ship, but they can become incredibly high when you are talking about a ship on the scale of Icon of the Seas.
The entire project took just over 900 days to complete, with almost all aspects of the construction taking place at the Meyer Turku Shipyard. Thousands of skilled workers were required to work long hours.
From structural engineers and safety specialists to interior designers and welders, these professionals were brought in from throughout Finland and beyond.
The project required almost the entire full-time staff of the shipyard to work around the clock, while other professionals were also brought in on contracts from throughout Europe and beyond.
On top of that, the COVID-19 pandemic also delayed construction, creating costly logistical problems when it came to organizing and employing a team of nearly 3,000 shipbuilders and other laborers.
In all, labor costs for constructing Icon of the Seas likely ranged between $400 and $600 million.
Materials and Technology
Naturally, constructing the world’s largest cruise ship required significant investments in materials. German steel manufacturer Metalcolour Group supplied over 350,000 square meters of high-quality DOBEL film laminated steel for the ship, which would have come at a tremendous cost.
Substantial investments in materials were then required for the ship’s six multi-fuel Wartsila engine propulsion systems, luxurious interiors, numerous amenities, furnishings for the ship’s 2,805 staterooms, and more.
The material and technology budget alone is estimated to have reached as high as $600 million. This would include the specialized marine gas oil and propulsion system, which would allow the ship to lower its life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions.
In addition to these costs, Royal Caribbean had to contend with material damage when a fire broke out in February 2023 while the ship was being constructed at the Meyer Turku Shipyard. While Royal Caribbean did not release the cost of the fire, materials were damaged.
Interior Design and Amenities
Given that the completed ship is equipped with numerous record-breaking amenities, Royal Caribbean spared no expense on outfitting the ship’s interiors.
The costs to create the neighborhood spaces, including the prominent AquaDome, the New York City-themed Central Park neighborhood, and the lavishly decorated Royal Promenade, would have been immense.
The same is true for the numerous amenities, like Category 6, the largest water park at sea. Other amenities, including the mini-golf course, the first suspended infinity pool on any cruise ship, the FlowRider Surf Simulator, live performance venues like Lou’s Jazz Club, and numerous other restaurants, bars, and cafés, could have easily cost hundreds of millions to design and install.
While these costs may seem outrageous, the amenities were installed to enhance guest experiences and contribute to the vessel’s allure as a luxury cruise ship, helping to draw in crowds and create a buzz.
Royal Caribbean correctly predicted that the money spent on constructing Icon of the Seas would allow the ship to become profitable and help the cruise line cement its position as one of the industry’s leaders and innovators.
Why Did Icon Cost So Much to Build?
Several unique aspects contribute to the high construction cost of Icon of the Seas:
The Size and Scale of the Project
Constructing the world’s largest cruise ship was no easy feat, nor was it inexpensive. From start to finish, the project required enormous resources, including advanced design and construction techniques, like reinforcing the dry dock, where most of the project was completed.
Even the decision to hire the Meyer Turku Shipyard for the project was not the most budget-friendly decision, but the famous shipbuilders are internationally known for their expertise in building large, complex vessels.
In addition, the cost of importing materials to this relatively remote location in Finland, combined with the enormous skilled labor force, only added to the final expense.
The Innovations in Fuel Efficiency and Sustainability
When Royal Caribbean Group decided that their flagship vessel would adhere to the industry trend of moving towards more environmentally sustainable cruising, it meant that they would have to invest heavily in LNG technology, a cleaner marine fuel, and expensive fuel cell technology.
Read Also: What Is an LNG-Powered Cruise Ship?
While decreasing carbon emissions was seen as a positive move and one that helped create a positive image for the ship in the eyes of the general public, it was not cheap.
Unique Features and Their Costs
While the enormous size of Icon of the Seas usually steals the headlines, the ship is also notable for its unique features, many of which were record-breaking when they were added to it.
Unsurprisingly, all of these headline-catching features came at a high cost, helping to contribute to the overall price tag for the ship. Here are just a few of the ship’s major features and estimates of how much they cost.
The AquaDome
This enormous enclosed glass and steel dome, which gives one of the ship’s eight neighborhoods its name, offers panoramic ocean views and serves as a multi-purpose venue for dining, entertainment, and relaxation.
Aligning and installing the world’s single largest glass and steel structure on the water was an 80-hour nonstop process requiring a team of over 300 specialists.
The cost of developing such a versatile space was just shy of €8 million, or $8.5 million, which makes sense when you consider the material costs and the incredible amount of engineering required to make it functional, visually appealing, and safe.
The World’s Largest Water Park at Sea
The ship’s Thrill Island Neighborhood’s record-breaking water park, Category 6, also includes six full-size water slides, making it the most impressive at sea.
Building and maintaining a water park of this scale involves high costs, both in initial construction and ongoing maintenance. The company had to bring in several expert water slide design firms to design the park in a way that would allow it to be technically sound and completely safe without compromising on the original vision.
The slides were constructed off-site and transported to Meyer Turku. The design had to account for the weight of the three deck-high slides and the water they would hold.
While Royal Caribbean did not release a final total for the Category 6 Water Park cost, it would have been one of the most expensive amenities to design, build, and test.
The Eight Neighborhoods
Dividing the ship into eight distinct areas was another ambitious decision intended to enhance guest experiences by offering something for every age group. For Icon of the Seas, the eight neighborhoods are:
- The AquaDome
- Chill Island
- Thrill Island
- The Hideaway
- Surfside
- The Royal Promenade
- Central Park
- The Suite Neighborhood
Each of these areas features unique amenities, decor, layouts, and accommodations that would have raised the overall construction costs for the ship.
Cost of Safety and Compliance
As the world’s largest cruise ship, Icon of the Seas was under immense scrutiny from international regulators.
To meet these standards, the ship was designed to meet rigorous and international safety standards and all environmental requirements.
Compliance with maritime safety requirements meant outfitting the ship with advanced navigation and communications systems, acquiring 17 lifeboats to accommodate the ship’s total maximum capacity of 9,950 people, and much more.
Again, all of these safety measures would have contributed substantially to the ship’s final cost, but failure to meet safety requirements would have jeopardized the ship’s ability to sail.
Cost to Cruise on Icon of the Seas
Now that Icon of the Seas is in service, passengers can enjoy cruising on the world’s largest and most expensive cruise ship.
Given the wide range of accommodations available, the price of a voyage on Icon of the Seas can vary. While a top-tier, seven-night cruising experience in one of the ship’s many suites could cost over $7,000 per person, a basic seven-night Eastern Caribbean & Perfect Day at CocoCay Cruise could cost as little as $1,600 if you chose to stay in one of the most affordable interior cabins.
While these prices may seem expensive on the surface, it’s important to remember how much the ship has to offer. Not only do guests get a lot for their money, but when the ship is fully booked, the voyages generate the millions of dollars in revenue required to help Royal Caribbean recoup its substantial investment.
Final Thoughts on the Cost of Icon of the Seas‘ Construction
The construction of Icon of the Seas continues to stand out as one of the boldest undertakings in the entire history of the cruise industry.
Not only did the completed ship redefine what a cruise ship could be, but it also showed how ambitious and expensive a project building a record-breaking vessel had to be.
From its ground-breaking amenities and eye-catching features to its enormous physical size and $2 billion price tag, Icon of the Seas is a true achievement and the type of ship all cruise enthusiasts should be excited to experience first-hand.
